The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-07-09
The Negro's Future.

The discussion OF the question OF
The future of the Negro in the
South continues to occupy fair
share Of public attention. There
are good reasons for saying that
those who contend that the Negro
race is dying out aud those VINO
hold that it will become amaIgama
ted with the white race are mis-
taken. The statistics upon which
both theories are based are taken
from the cities, and the negroes III
the cities arr but a small part OF
the Negro population. The death
rate OF Negroes III cities is very
large, particularly of Negro chill
dren, but it should not be forgotten
that the birth rate is also large.
Al all the Negro women marry
and as rule, each has quite larS
humber of children. A fair per
centage Of those who do not marry
help considerably to increase the
race, Outside of the cities it is
pretty safe to say that while the
birth rate of the Negroes is larger
than that of whites the death raj,
is no larger.
An increase in the number of
mullatto4s in the cities is notice
able, while In the country districts
Ethe disappea ance OF the mullatoes
! is equally noticeable. When the
] fact is taken in consideration that as
! the condition of the Negro race
improve its selfrespect will in
crease, it is apparent that the mum
Der OF mulattoes even III the cities
will decrease. Instead OF the Negro
race becoming lost in the white
race, therefore, the prospects is
that it will become more distinct
lively black. Unless there shall be
other powerful influences to bring
about an amagam ,tiop CT the races
/ the line OF separation will become
] Gle rer, instead of more blurred, as
the years go by.
But it does not follow that be>
cause the stronger race will not
absorb the weaker one, the latter
will not have a future of which ii
will have reason to be proud. The
colored race is not gong to leave
the South, is not diving out, and is
mot being amalgamated with the
v bite race. 1t is slowly but surely
advancing to higher plane OF
civilization, and will develop along
side OF the white race, though 1t
will be separated from it 10y line
which neither will care to Cross.
Even now, although occupying
much lower plane from the stand
point OF intelligence, the Negroes
ARE organized upon the plau.ot the
white people. They nave their
social grades, their chuIch organiza
tions, their secret and benevolent
societies, their prominent men and
their tramps, their rich and poor
land their good and bad people.
Whatever there is in the society of
.the white people exists among the
scolored people on smaller scale.
Here in the South some very
marked changes have been wit
messed within the last twenty live
years among the Negroes, and
changes still more marked will be
witnessed in the next twenty-five.
The Negro lawyer, doctor and
merchant are almost unknown now,
Nbut they will be known before an
Eother quar- er of "a century, 1t is
probable that Negro professional
and business men Will seek business
among their own race, aud thar
race will furnish it. The NJ gro Is
bound to accumulate wealth, and
though his progress in that respect
G may be slow. yet, in the course OF
time. there will be very fair
sprinkling of rich and we'll -lo-do
colored men in every Southern
State. They will use their money
Just as the white people use theirs;
and, therefore, it may be- expected